Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has sharply criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), currently under Mohsin Naqvi, after it slapped a fine of PKR 20 million on pace bowler Naseem Shah. The disciplinary action was linked to a social-media post that became controversial during the opening game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, when Naseem’s official account on X published a remark that many read as a dig at Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The controversy began with a now-deleted post that appeared to quote-tweet a PCB update from the PSL opener. In the message, Naseem wrote: “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” The line was widely interpreted as targeting Maryam Nawaz’s VIP treatment as she attended the match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Observers noted that she arrived with a large security convoy and later interacted with players, which only added fuel to the speculation about what the tweet was referring to.
Even though the post was removed quickly and a subsequent statement claimed the account had been compromised, PCB officials were not satisfied with that explanation. Within 24 hours, Naseem Shah received a show-cause notice for breaching terms tied to his central contract and for violating media-related rules. The PCB later confirmed that the bowler had breached multiple clauses in his agreement, pointing in particular to restrictions that prevent players from publicly criticising officials or entities connected to the administration.
Despite the punishment, Naseem Shah is still expected to be available for selection and to continue playing in the tournament. The PCB also moved swiftly after the incident, imposing the PKR 20 million fine within three days through its disciplinary committee. The board’s action came even after reports suggested the pacer had apologised and had ended his social-media management arrangements.
In its official statement, the PCB said it had taken note that Naseem Shah’s social media adviser had already been removed, adding that the individual would be “blacklisted.” The board then signalled that the wider message from this episode was about tightening control over how players communicate online.
In the wake of the case, the PCB introduced stricter social media guidelines for cricketers and their support teams. Under the new framework, players and their managers are required to seek prior approval before posting anything on the internet, with particular emphasis on political matters. The PCB also warned that political posts could lead to penalties reaching up to PKR 10 million.
Younis Khan, however, felt the response was overly severe. Speaking against the decision, he argued that the PCB should have shown leniency after the player admitted his mistake. Younis said that once Naseem had apologised and clarified the situation, the board could have opted for a warning or a far smaller fine rather than imposing the maximum-scale penalty it chose.
He also suggested that such a hard line could harm player morale. “The board should be taking care of its players. If such strict standards are applied, then selectors and officials should also be held accountable for their mistakes,” Younis said, calling into question whether the disciplinary approach was consistent and fair.
Younis further urged the PCB to rethink its ruling, stressing that Shah had already shown remorse. He added that this was not the first time the PCB has taken disciplinary action over political messaging. Last year, all-rounder Aamer Jamal was fined USD 4,000 for displaying a political slogan during a match.
